William e



(No Model.)

' W. E. M URBARGER. COMBINED SHAFT SUPPORT AND THILL COUPLING.

Patented Apr. 24, 1894.

WYT/VZ'SSES UNITED ST TES;

PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM E.- MURBARGER, on INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA.

COMBINED SHAFT-SUPPORT AND THlLL-COUPLlNG.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 518,763, dated April24, 1894.

Application filed November 18,1893. Serial lie-491,353. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that 1, WILLIAM E. MURBAR- GER, a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing at Indianapolis, in the county of Marion and State ofIndiana, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in a CombinedShaft-Support and Thill-Ooupling; and I do declare the following to be afull, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enableothers skilled in the art to which 1t appertai-ns to make and use thesame, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to thefigures of reference marked 4 larged scale.

thereon, which form a cation.

My invention relates to improvements in shaft supports and thillcouplings, and it consists in a combined shaft support, anti-rattler andbolt retainer for thill couplings combining in one compact deviceseveral novel and valuable features, which render the inventionexceedingly convenient and efiective in practical use: and my inventionwill be hereinafter fully described and claimed.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, in which the same numerals ofreference indicate corresponding parts in the several figuresz-Figure lis a perspective view showing my invention in its operative position.Fig. 2 is a perspective detail view, on an on- Fig. 3 is a frontelevation of the spring and its roller." Figure 4 is aperspective detailview.

In the drawings, 1 indicates the tension plate, which is cast preferablyin the form shown, having the curved neck 2 which extends up between theparallel arms of the clip, 10, and fits against the end of the shaftiron 11 which is pivoted between the clip-arms by a bolt 12. Shoulders,3, 3, are formed on each side of the neck 2 which contact against theunder side of the clip-arms, and prevent the tension plate from rising.In the side of the tension plate is formed a circular recess, 4, adaptedto form a seat for the coiled inner end 5 of the spring 5; and acircular series of holes, 6, are formed in this seat into any one ofwhich the extremity 5 of the spring, which is bent out at right anglesto the plane of the coil, can be engaged. This circle of part of thisspecifiretaining apertures enables the end of the spring to be adjustedto arrange the set of the spring to carry the shaft at the desiredheight; and to always give the spring the desired strength or tension.One of my devices is of course attached to each of the two shafts of avehicle, but it is only necessary to here illustrate and describe one ofthem. The outer free end of the spring is bent across at right angles,as shown, and upon this transverse end is mounted aroller, 7, thebarrelof which is of a width corresponding to the width of the shaft againstthe under side of which it bears, while at each end the roller is formedwith the wide flange, 7 to prevent it from slipping from the shaft inactualuse, these end or side flanges fitting up on each side of theshaft, as shown. At about the center of its length the spring arm isbent, slanting, across the line of the spring coil, bringing its outerend in nearly the same plane with the inner end'of its coil, as clearlyshown in Fig. 3; the object of this construction being to bring theroller 7 directly under the shaft, so that it will bear squarely againstit and work successfully.

To the front of the tension plate 1, immediatelybelow its neck 2, issecured a slideplate 8, which is formed with the retaining end 8*,extending up in a plane at right angles to that of the slide. It will beseen by reference to Fig. 1 that when in position this retaining endwill extend close on the outer side of the head of the pivot-bolt, 12,and will hold the said bolt securely in place, and ren der it impossiblefor it to work loose or come out: and dispenses with the usual nut onthe pivot-bolt. The slide bodyis formed with an adjusting slot, 8through which the screw passes which secured it to the tension plate,this slotpermitting of the adjustment of the slide to suit the varyingthickness of diiferent clip-arms. In Fig. 4 I have shown this slideformed at'both ends with the upwardlyextending retaining ends,- which,as there shown extend up close to both sides of the clip arms; and withthis construction the plain pin 9 is'used, which is formed withoutthreads or head. The neck of the tension plate bearing against the jointof the coupling under the pressure of the spring will at all timesprevent rattling.

It will be seen from the foregoing, that my invention is very compact inits construction, and entirely free of all complicated parts, While itis exceedingly effective in practical use. By the peculiar constructionof the single spring the roller is brought squarely beneath and againstthe under surface of the shaft, while its wide end flanges hold itsecnrely to the shaft as it works under the same 1n operation. Thespring can be readily removed from the tension plate and adjustedtherein to give it the proper set or tension of its coil; while theslide with its retaining end or ends securely holds the pivot-bolt ofthe coupling in place, and renders it impossible for the bolt to Workloose or accidentally come out.

Having thus described my invention, what I cla m, and desire to secureby Letters Patent, 1s

1. A combined shaft support. and thill cou pllng comprising the tensionplate having the curved bearing neck and formed with the circular recessand circle of adjusting apertures, the spring coil entering said recessand havng the straight end adapted to be adjusted 111 any of saidapertures, and having the single bent arm carrying a roller at its outerend which contacts with the under side of the shaft; substantially asset forth.

2. The combination with the tension plat'e, arranged as set forth, ofthe transverse slideplatc secured thereto immediately below the couplingjoint and formed with the retaining end or ends extending up at rightangles to the plate, for the purpose specified.

3. The combination with the tension plate, arranged as set forth, of thetransverse adj ustable slide-plate secured thereto immediately below thecoupling joint, having the adj usting slotthrough which the retainingscrew passes, and formed with the retaining end extending up at rightangles to the plate, for the purpose specified.

4. The herein -described combined shaft support and thill coupling,comprising the tension plate formed with the circular recess and circleof adjusting apertures, the retaining plate mounted on the front of thetension plate immediately below the coupling joint, the coil enteringthe circular recess of the tension plate and having the straight endadapted to be inserted in the circle of adjustingapertures, and havingthe single bent arm formed with the transverse outer end, and the rollermounted on said transverse end to contact with the under side of theshaft and formed with the retaining flanges which prevent it fromslipping from the shaft; substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

\VILLIAM E. MURBARGER.

lVitnesses:

A. 0. MAY, 0. VINSON.

